Airborne 12.09.16

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Airborne 12.09.16

Rescue Helicopter Diverts To Butcher Shop After Training Exercise

You have to hand it to the British, they do love their steaks - even if it means diverting a military helicopter on a training mission to pick up some fresh filets. An unnamed pilot for Her Majesty’s Coastguard has been suspended after flying a CHC-operated helicopter on an 85 mile detour from northern Scotland to the island of Orkney after a training exercise. The Australian Herald Sun reports that part of the operation was captured on cell phone video and posted on YouTube, but has since been removed from the site. The clip showed the aircraft landing in a field by a butcher shop and two crew members disembarking to retrieve a package of steaks from butchers waiting in the field.

CHC Helicopter, a contract SAR provider, has suspended the pilot and opened an investigation into the incident. A company spokeswoman said 'We expect high standards of professionalism from all our employees, and if we find these have not been met, we will take the appropriate action. While the aircraft was previously engaged in a training exercise, it was operating a non-revenue flight at the time of the incident in question."

Considering the hourly cost involved in operating a large helicopter, these could be the most expensive steaks ever.